diff --git a/src/cli/cli.go b/src/cli/cli.go
index 44ba54f..21da4be 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.go
+++ b/src/cli/cli.go
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ func Run() (err error) {
 		&cli.BoolFlag{Name: "local", Usage: "force to use only local connections"},
 		&cli.BoolFlag{Name: "ignore-stdin", Usage: "ignore piped stdin"},
 		&cli.BoolFlag{Name: "overwrite", Usage: "do not prompt to overwrite"},
+		&cli.BoolFlag{Name: "testing", Usage: "flag for testing purposes"},
 		&cli.StringFlag{Name: "curve", Value: "p256", Usage: "choose an encryption curve (" + strings.Join(pake.AvailableCurves(), ", ") + ")"},
 		&cli.StringFlag{Name: "ip", Value: "", Usage: "set sender ip if known e.g. 10.0.0.1:9009, [::1]:9009"},
 		&cli.StringFlag{Name: "relay", Value: models.DEFAULT_RELAY, Usage: "address of the relay", EnvVars: []string{"CROC_RELAY"}},
@@ -368,6 +369,7 @@ func receive(c *cli.Context) (err error) {
 		IP:            c.String("ip"),
 		Overwrite:     c.Bool("overwrite"),
 		Curve:         c.String("curve"),
+		TestFlag:      c.Bool("testing"),
 	}
 	if crocOptions.RelayAddress != models.DEFAULT_RELAY {
 		crocOptions.RelayAddress6 = ""
diff --git a/src/croc/croc.go b/src/croc/croc.go
index ef65057..b94e9e6 100644
--- a/src/croc/croc.go
+++ b/src/croc/croc.go
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	HashAlgorithm  string
 	ThrottleUpload string
 	ZipFolder      bool
+	TestFlag       bool
 }
 
 // Client holds the state of the croc transfer
@@ -780,7 +781,10 @@ func (c *Client) Receive() (err error) {
 	log.Debugf("receiver connection established: %+v", c.conn[0])
 	log.Debugf("banner: %s", banner)
 
-	if !usingLocal && !c.Options.DisableLocal && !isIPset {
+	if c.Options.TestFlag {
+		log.Debugf("TEST FLAG ENABLED, TESTING LOCAL IPS")
+	}
+	if c.Options.TestFlag || (!usingLocal && !c.Options.DisableLocal && !isIPset) {
 		// ask the sender for their local ips and port
 		// and try to connect to them
 		log.Debug("sending ips?")
@@ -807,8 +811,10 @@ func (c *Client) Receive() (err error) {
 				haveLocalIP := false
 				for _, localIP := range localIps {
 					localIPparsed := net.ParseIP(localIP)
+					log.Debugf("localIP: %+v, localIPparsed: %+v", localIP, localIPparsed)
 					if ipv4Net.Contains(localIPparsed) {
 						haveLocalIP = true
+						log.Debugf("ip: %+v is a local IP", ip)
 						break
 					}
 				}